"Hee hee hee..." Xie Mei giggled, her body shaking. "Lin Fan, join forces with me, and not only will you get a share of the treasures, but you'll get me too!"
"And my daughter, Xiao Qing!"
Everyone present was stunned.
Xiao Qing looked at Xie Mei blankly. "Mom, he might be a bit handsome, but I already have someone I like."
"That man is a powerful spirit cultivator, his strength is no less than Ye Wudi's!"
As she spoke, her face was filled with a happy smile. Clearly, she was deeply enamored with the man in her heart.
Xie Mei reprimanded her gently, "Silly girl, our Wu Sect despises spirit cultivators the most. Break it off with that person quickly!"
Xiao Qing pouted, clearly disagreeing.
"In any case, I don't like this foolish Lin Fan!"
"..."
Lin Fan was speechless. *I don't like you either*, he thought!
Bai Xue, Peng Fei, and several other spirit cultivators were on high alert. If Lin Fan, Liu Muci, and this mother-daughter pair joined forces, they would surely perish.
"First strike, kill!"
Someone couldn't resist and attacked first. Two streams of energy shot towards Lin Fan and Xie Mei.
Swish!
The air seemed to be torn apart!
Lin Fan's mind was in turmoil; he didn't want to fight. He merely dodged the attacks, not retaliating.
Xie Mei raised her arm, and a swarm of蛊虫 (gu worms) flew out from beneath her white Wu robe. They helped block the incoming energy for the mother and daughter.
"Go!"
The two spirit cultivators who attacked first seized this opportunity and dashed upwards. Their goal wasn't to fight but to force Xie Mei, who was blocking the entrance, to reveal an opening, allowing them to rush upstairs and seize the treasure.
"Bastard, where do you think you're running?"
Xie Mei formed a hand seal, chanting incantations. With a hum, a large swarm of 蛊虫 pursued them.
Xiao Qing was not to be outdone. Her white Wu robe billowed without wind. Powerful energy waves erupted as she engaged another spirit cultivator in battle.
Bai Xue and Peng Fei exchanged glances. Taking advantage of the chaotic fight, they quickly rushed towards the entrance.
"You two, get down here!"
Lin Fan roared and extended his sword finger. Purple spirit energy coalesced in the air, forming an iron chain that wrapped around Bai Xue's ankle. He pulled down gently, and Bai Xue's upward momentum abruptly ceased, causing her to nearly fall.
Clang!
Bai Xue drew a soft sword from her waist and slashed at the chain, producing a metallic clang.
"Little Brother Lin Fan, are you really going to join forces with them against us?" Peng Fei asked with a bitter smile. He had a good impression of Lin Fan and did not wish to be his enemy.
"Heh heh, if you don't join forces with us, will you let them kill us in the end?" Xie Mei's mocking voice echoed from above. She and her daughter, with their swarm of 蛊虫 filling the air and curses covering the stone walls, quickly overwhelmed the two spirit cultivators, leaving them no room to fight back.
"Lin Fan, you need to think clearly. My brother-in-law is Ye Wudi! When he arrives and sees you doing this, he will absolutely not let you go!" Bai Xue threatened.
"Alas~" Lin Fan sighed helplessly. "I haven't joined forces with anyone. I'm just doing what I should. Since I've come to Spirit Mountain, I can't leave empty-handed."
"Lin Fan, you ungrateful fool!" Bai Xue roared in anger. "Even if you trap us both, what good will it do to get the treasures at the summit?"
"The entire Spirit Mountain has been occupied by the Ye family. The treasures will ultimately belong to the Ye family!"
"Your actions are merely paving the way for others!" With that, her energy surged, and she swung her soft sword downwards.
Clang!
The purple iron chain snapped, and she ascended forcefully.
"You're no match for me. Don't struggle, or you'll get hurt." Lin Fan stood his ground and pressed downwards. Purple spirit energy formed a colossal hand in the air, like a small mountain, pressing down on Bai Xue's head. The terrifying pressure of the Divine Realm was on full display.
Bai Xue, already a high-level spirit cultivator, possessed formidable strength, and her soft sword was a supreme treasure. Against opponents of similar cultivation, she was almost invincible. This was the first time she had felt so utterly suppressed.
"What exactly are you cultivating?" Bai Xue was shocked but remained calm. She sensed Ye Wudi's aura rapidly approaching.
"Little Brother Lin Fan, since you've attacked Bai Xue, I can't stand by and watch." Peng Fei sighed and charged forward from nearby.
"Your opponent is me!" Liu Muci stepped forward. Shielded by an invisible aura, she threw a punch and engaged Peng Fei in a fierce battle.
The purple hand continued to press down. Bai Xue poured all her spirit energy into her soft sword and slashed upwards at the giant hand. However, it was futile.
"If you leave now, I won't harm you." Lin Fan advised kindly, then swiftly captured Bai Xue. The giant purple palm could crush her into a pulp with a slight exertion of force.
"Lin Fan, you can't kill me. You'll be torn to shreds by my brother-in-law!" Bai Xue said coldly.
"By the time he arrives, you'll already be dead." As Lin Fan spoke, he applied a little more pressure with his right hand. Bai Xue's lips bled, and she cried out in pain. Yet, a triumphant smile spread across her face. "He's here, you're finished!"
Lin Fan frowned, sensing a terrifying energy fluctuation rapidly approaching from outside. The energy surged, vast and boundless, like an immense ocean. Everyone present was startled, a deep sense of dread rising in their hearts.
Boom!
The hard stone wall was blasted open by a fist from outside. The force of the punch did not diminish, directly shattering the purple hand. Bai Xue fell, caught by a woman in her thirties.
Ye Wudi's hair stood on end with fury as he hovered in the air. A crimson spear instantly struck. Everything happened so suddenly that no one could react.
"Lin Fan, die!" Ye Wudi, wielding his spear, was suddenly in front of Lin Fan.
Liu Muci noticed the situation, repelled Peng Fei with a punch, and tried to come to Lin Fan's aid, but it was too late.
"In this day and age, doing good deeds truly brings no reward!" Lin Fan's body blazed with purple light, forming a defensive barrier before him. The spear struck the barrier, sending ripples of purple light outwards.
"Lin Fan, you injured my sister. Today, I will tear you to pieces!" Ye Wudi stood on a large rock above, one hand holding the spear, the other pointing at Lin Fan's nose as he roared.
"Your family is truly unreasonable!" Lin Fan, helpless against such a powerful opponent, had no choice but to unleash his true strength. He activated his dantian, circulating spirit energy throughout his body, erupting with potent power. Sand and stones flew everywhere!
"Kill!"
Ye Wudi wasted no more words. Holding his spear, he charged again. His sister had been injured, and he swore to kill Lin Fan. Further words were useless. The wind howled, and his clothes fluttered.